Chicagoland Au Pairs & Host Families

Happy Mother’s Day Host moms!

kcampbell — Sun, 13 May 2012 22:38:53 +0000

Happy mother’s day to Cultural Care Au Pair host moms everywhere! We appreciate you and hope your day is filled with fun, love and family.

Local conversation groups for non-native English speakers

kcampbell — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 18:25:45 +0000

There are many places an au pair can improve his or her English with conversation. Here is an extensive listing of some local ones!

Conversational ESL Groups
1. Addison Public Library
4 Friendship Plz
Addison, IL 60101-2787
1st and 3rd Saturday of every month from 10:00 a.m.-12:00 noon
Rosana Auk (847) 532-4777 & Sharon Dziubski (630) 404-1899 from Literacy Dupage
2. Aurora Public Library
1 East Benton Street
Aurora, IL 60505
For schedule changes, check the Web site, but generally the conversation group meets at the following times:
1st, 2nd, and 3rd Saturdays of every month from 10:30 a.m.-noon (with a reading group on the 4th Saturday)
Tuesdays & Wednesdays from 5-7 p.m.
Steve Carmody (630) 264-4262
3. Bensenville Community Public Library
200 S Church Rd
Bensenville, IL 60106-2303
Every Wednesday of the month from 12:30-2:00 p.m.
Cindy Schwartz (630) 766-4285 from Literacy Dupage
4. Berwyn Public Library
2701 S. Harlem
Berwyn, IL 60402
(708) 795-8000
Intermediate & Advanced
Saturdays from 10:30-11:30 a.m.
Beginner & Intermediate classes offered at the North Berwyn Park District
5. Bloomingdale Public Library
101 Fairfield Way
Bloomingdale, IL 60108-1537
2nd and 4th Wednesday of every month from 10:00-11:30 a.m.
Lisa Cherry (630) 790-2195 & Mary Ellen Mertz (630) 231-8840 from Literacy Dupage
6. Calvary Lutheran Church
107 N. Wood Dale Road (on the corner of Wood Dale Road & Montrose Ave.)
Wood Dale, IL 60191
(630) 766-2838
There is a one-time registration fee of $10, which will cover the cost of materials. The group will meet every Wednesday morning from 9:30 until 11:00 a.m., beginning on September 14, 2011 and continuing through December 14, 2011. Childcare may be available if needed.
7. Elmwood Park Public Library
1 Conti Parkway
Elmwood Park, IL 60707
Hosted by Literacy Volunteers of Western Cook County
Every Wednesday from 7-8:30 p.m.
(708) 395-1218
8. Forest Park Public Library
7555 Jackson Blvd.
Forest Park, IL 60130
Hosted by Literacy Volunteers of Western Cook County
Thursdays from 10-11 a.m.
(708) 366-7171
9. Glen Ellyn Public Library
400 Duane St
Glen Ellyn, IL 60137-4508
2nd and 4th Saturday of every month from 10:00-12:00 noon
Wendy Casebeer (630) 871-8014 & Sandy Lopata (630) 460-7552 from Literacy Dupage
10. Glenside Public Library
25 E Fullerton Ave
Glendale Heights, IL 60139-2688
1st and 3rd Monday of every month from 7:00-9:00 p.m.
Jane Cox (630) 260-0819, Fred Murman (630) 260-0819 & John Staffa (630) 935-1261 from Literacy Dupage
11. Indian Prairie Public Library
401 Plainfield Rd
Darien, IL 60561-4207
1st and 3rd Saturday of every month from 10:00 a.m.-12:00 noon
Kathy Conrad (630) 963-4779 & Gretchen Wasniewski (630) 325-6359 from Literacy Dupage
12. Lisle Library District
777 Front St
Lisle, IL 60532-2287
2nd and 4th Saturday of every month from 10:00 a.m.-12:00 noon
Jane Cox (630) 260-0819 & Allison Gush (630) 778-6594 from Literacy Dupage
13. Literacy Volunteers of Western Cook County
LVWCC Office
125 N. Marion St., Rm 301
Oak Park, IL 60301
Saturdays from 9:30-11 a.m.
(708) 848-8499
14. Naper Boulevard Library
2035 S Naper Blvd
Naperville, IL 60565-3353
2nd and 4th Wednesday of every month from 10:00 a.m.-12:00 noon
Rao Lakkaraju (630) 820-1417 & Mark Munoz (630) 305-9498 from Literacy Dupage
15. North Berwyn Park District
Community Center
1619 S Wesley Ave
Beginner & Intermediate
Saturdays from 9-10 a.m.
To register for this group, please call:
(708) 749-4900, ext. 14
16. Plainfield Public Library
15025 S. Illinois St.
Plainfield, IL 60544
Thursdays from 7-8 p.m. from Jan. 13-Mar. 17, 2010 and again from April 7-May 26, 2010.
(815) 436-6639
17. St. Charles Public Library
One South 6th Ave.
St. Charles, IL 60174
First Monday of every month at 7 p.m.
Hosted by Literacy Volunteer Fox Valley
18. Summit Public Library
6233 S. Archer Road
Summit, IL 60501
ph: (708) 458-1545
fax: (708) 458-1842
email: www.summitlibrary.info
Mondays from 10:00-11:00 a.m. or
Wednesdays from 10:00-11:00 a.m.
19. Waubonsee Community College
Rt. 47 at Waubonsee Drive
Sugar Grove, IL 60554
(630) 466-7900
English conversation and group activities are offered in a small group setting for adults wanting to improve their spoken English language skills. Daytime, evening and weekend classes are available. This is a drop in, open enrollment, and free class.
Call for schedule.
20. Westmont Public Library
428 N Cass Ave
Westmont, IL 60559-1502
2nd and 4th Saturday of every month from 10:00 a.m.-12:00 noon
Ruth & Tom Pointec (630) 834-2618 or Lynn Robertson (630) 495-8942 from Literacy Dupage

Au pair international cook-off competition low key and yummy

kcampbell — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 21:02:40 +0000

The March au pair meeting for Elmhurst was a delicious walk through the cuisine’s of the au pair’s native country. We sampled German potato salad, Columbian coffee, plantains and special salsa of Columbia, German rice pudding, American chilli and a very special Danish-Brazilian chocolate caramel cake and a few other delicacies that made us all thankful to get together and laugh and chat. Looking forward to bingo night in April!

Au pair stuff exchange

kcampbell — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 20:42:17 +0000

Dear Au Pairs,

You have stuff. You came here with two suitcases of stuff, and then you bought some stuff. Your host family and friends gave you some stuff and now you have to decide which of that stuff is going back to your homeland with you. Am I right? Well, it isn’t a simple process, but it just became a bit easier with the creation of the Au Pair Stuff website by a local Cultural Care au pair. Now new au pairs can get their winter gear at a better price and soon-to-be shipping off au pairs can lighten their suitcases. Check it out.

Sincerely,

Kim

Au pair of the year awards

kcampbell — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 21:37:53 +0000

Every au pair knows that there are the Oscars, there’s the superbowl, then there’s the Au Pair of the Year Award!

Au pairs admire art of Elmhurst

kcampbell — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 21:17:03 +0000

This past Friday the au pairs enjoyed a meeting close to home,admiring the artwork at the Elmhurst Art museum and having a lovely dinner at Wok n’ Fire to welcome our newest additions to the au pair population, Andrea & Angela (from Columbia) and Linda (from France) and to say goodbye to Melissa (from Mexico). Welcome Andrea, Angela and Linda and bon voyage Melissa. You will be missed!

Au Pairs volunteer at the food pantry

kcampbell — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 21:18:10 +0000

The au pairs of Elmhurst volunteered recently at a food pantry in Chicago, helping to put together food boxes for over 65 families.

Where does the term au pair originate?

kcampbell — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 22:34:39 +0000

What is the difference between an au pair and a nanny? A nanny is a professional babysitter who a family hires to take care of their children. An au pair is a young adult with a lot of childcare experience who travels abroad for a year to live with a family and take care of their children. The au pair improves their language skills and becomes a member of the household while advancing his or her education to boot. The family gets a new temporary household member, a young vibrant childcare provider and some insight in to other cultures. Ever wonder how and why the concept of cultural exchange through au pairs developed?

To find out more about how the au pair program works please contact me; Kim.campbell(AT SYMBOL)lcc.culturalcare.com

Family Night with the Chicago Wolves

kcampbell — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 00:54:01 +0000

CULTURAL CARE AU PAIR HOST FAMILY NIGHT
WITH THE CHICAGO WOLVES

SAT., FEB. 25, 2012 AT 7 P.M. Tickets only $14
Free Fun Fest in Skyline room-games, face painting, and music
BREAKAWAY MAGAZINE to the first 7,500 fans
Optional hot dog and drink coupon
available for $6
Free hat for each ticket purchased!

Talk to Kim to find out how to order.

Thanksgiving primer for au pairs & host families

kcampbell — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 20:25:49 +0000

Is it about the family time, the football, the turkey, the harvest, survival in a new land or having a huge feast to fatten up for winter? Whatever your personal answer is, its a big family time of year for most of us, and during the hustle and bustle there are many au pairs who are trying to sort out our traditions. Thanksgiving is one of the ones they will have virtually no experience with and its up to host families to let them in on a few details. Courtesy of the Buzz if you are foggy on a few of the details yourself, here is a handy Thanksgiving cheat sheet.

Did you know 42.2 million Americans traveled 50 plus miles last year for thanksgiving in order to be with family members? If you really want to delve in to the history and customs behind this occasion you can check up on thanksgiving facts at History.com

Meanwhile, I hope your au pair and family enjoys the holiday stress free.